Real Monarchs Earn Comeback Draw Against San Antonio

San Antonio, Texas (Saturday, July 22, 2017) – DF Max Lachowecki’s late-game road heroics helped the Real Monarchs (14-2-2, 44 pts) earn a valuable point on the road in a 2-2 draw against San Antonio FC. The Monarchs needed to come back twice from one-goal deficits to earn the road result that puts them six points clear at the top of the Western Conference.

After giving up a set piece goal to Kris Trypak in the 68th minute, Head Coach Mark Briggs’ side pressed to pull one back. The equalizer came in the 86th minute. MF Chase Minter floated a cross to the far post, and Lachowecki nodded it past a diving Diego Restrepo. The goal is his second in as many matches. Lachowecki scored his first career goal last time out against Seattle Sounders FC 2 at Rio Tinto Stadium on July 8.

Lachowecki’s scoring run is bettered only by FW Chandler Hoffman. The forward provided RM’s first equalizer of the night, after the team conceded in the 28th minute. Hoffman leveled the match in the 32nd minute from the penalty spot. Sebastien Ibeagha took Hoffman down on an entry pass into the box. The forward made no mistake, sending the goalkeeper diving the wrong way. The tally is Hoffman’s fourth in the last three games and 12th of the season, good for third in USL.

GK Connor Sparrow kept the Claret-and-Cobalt USL side in the match with a pair of saves in the second half. The goalkeeper denied AJ Ajeakwa’s one-v-one in the 65th minute and stopped Cesar Elizondo on a stinging strike from the top of the box in the 84th. Sparrow finished with four total saves.

UP NEXT: Real Monarchs will stay in the Lone Star State for a Week 19 matchup against Rio Grande Valley FC (6:00 p.m. MT, Wednesday). Ricardo Velazco’s 6th minute goal helped Real earn a point with a 1-1 road decision on May 13, 2016. The Monarchs are 0-1-1 all time against Rio Grande.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:

SA -- Devin Vega (Billy Forbes), 28th minute: James Moberg got caught in possession in the back. Billy Forbes forced the turnover and centered it to Devin Vega for the one touch finish across Connor Sparrow’s body for the goal.

RM -- Chandler Hoffman, 32nd minute: Sebastien Ibeagha took Chandler Hoffman on an entry pass into the box. Hoffman sent Diego Restrepo the wrong way for the finish.

SA -- Kris Trypak (Sebastien Ibeagha), 68th minute: Rafael Castillo floated a free kick to the back post that was nodded across the face by Ibeagha. Kris Tyrpak was there to tap in past Connor Sparrow.

RM -- Max Lachowecki (Chase Minter), 86th minute: Chase Minter had time and space to measure the perfect cross on the far post to a wide open Max Lachowecki. The defender nodded it into the ground past Restrepo.

KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:

RM -- Connor Sparrow, 17th minute: Rafael Castillo played AJ Ajeakwa in. The forward cut in from the right to his left and struck the effort off the post. Connor Sparrow was covered the carrom to avoid any rebound attempts.

RM -- Connor Sparrow, 65th minute: Sparrow needed to come off his line to smother Ajeakwa as he was played into the box.

RM -- Connor Sparrow, 84th minute: Cesar Elizondo made a quick turn to fire on frame, but Sparrow was well positioned for a diving stop.

NOTES:

- The Claret-and-Cobalt USL side is now 1-0-1 all-time against San Antonio.

- The Monarchs improve/are 5-2-2 on the road.

- Chandler Hoffman scored his 12th overall and fourth in the last three matches.

- Max Lachowecki’s tally was just his second career goal. The defender scored his first against Seattle Sounders FC 2 on July 8.